Suggested aftermarket radiaor for caldina ST215

[Staplez]

I've got a lovely big crack in the top plastic tank of the factory radiator in my caldina. So I want to replace it with an after market one full alloy or whatever. And if anybody has any good advise on supliers around Auckland or makes I'd like to hear them.

I've been looking at one that scarle.co.nz is selling. Thoughts?

[loudstealthGT-Four]

i bought one from cheap chinese for my gt-four, but havn't got it going yet so cant comment on how well it works. as for fitment, fitted straight in to existing bottom mounts but requires modification of the top brackets as they're not in the right place

[Staplez]

I haven't physicly seen one of these cheap chinese ones yet but how would you rate it's look and construction of it? Keen to know because they look alright and it's likely the one I'll get unless somebody suggests some golden egg

[ned07]

ive got a cheap chinese one in my trueno, fitted fine and seems solid enough, top polishes up nice with a bit of auto-sol

[Staplez]

Ok cool, pretty sure I'll be grabbing one then. I don't mind the money, I just don't want to dick around with plastic top radiators. As long as the cheap chinese ones provide equal or even better cooling I'll be happy with it

[loudstealthGT-Four]

yea they are built very well, nice tidy welds, and noticeably lighter. Haven't really heard of many other brands of rads

[frost]

you should check if the heater core is leaking too, they tend to blow out together,

its under the dash behind the shifter, easy to get to from drivers side panel,

[Staplez]

Good advise I'll check out the heater core just incase but giving were it's stituated I think I'd have evident leaking on the floor. I've even got a spare heater core for this car, you know just lying around.

Cheers guys for the help

[Staplez]

Well i have installed my cheap chinese radiator but not without having to improvise a little. Firstly the website describes it as a direct fit but this isn't the case. The bottom mounts didn't line up and the radiator as about 3 inches shorter so the top mounting brackets don't reach.

Aside from a bit of work I have to do to make it fit. And a little more I'll do later as some of my methods are only a tempory solution. I'm quite happy with it. It's nice and thick, keeps my city and motorway temps lower then normal even with just 1 fan attached.

So I can't complain about it even though some custom mounting is required (welding new brackets in the next few days) and the thickness allows for only 1 fan to be attached as the exhaust manifold is now in the way. It's all running cooler. But the website should change to point out some extra effort is required to fit this into the caldina as it's clearly not a case of just bolting in as their website indicates

[loudstealthGT-Four]

yeah seems to be the way with "bolt straight in kits" they never actually just bolt straight in, theres always stuff that needs to be modified for it to work

[Boosted_162]

I put an ASI radiator in my ST185, the only thing i had to do was rip the rubber inserts out of the upper mounts, then it went in perfectly.

[loudstealthGT-Four]

I put an ASI radiator in my ST185, the only thing i had to do was rip the rubber inserts out of the upper mounts, then it went in perfectly.

yea thats what i done with my one in my st185, but without the rubber bits its not supported properly and can move around abit

[Boosted_162]

I put an ASI radiator in my ST185, the only thing i had to do was rip the rubber inserts out of the upper mounts, then it went in perfectly.

yea thats what i done with my one in my st185, but without the rubber bits its not supported properly and can move around abit

Wierd, mine fitted mint and barely moved

[ned07]

yea mine fitted mint to, wouldnt have recomended if it hadnt

[Staplez]

A bit of advise for the rubber mounts comments above. If they were to thick to attach the top mounts try some thin rubber like inner tubes from tyres. They can be rather helpful materials for many aplication in a car to stop rubbing or vibration. I haven't used it this particular job but it's proven it's use in other things like inside door cards to stop speakers from making horrible noise and the rubber is good at standing up to a fair amount of heat such as a radiator.

It's thin and useful and can be hidden so it doesn't look like a shit job. Cost $6 for a bike tube from the warehouse or free if inorganic collections are in your area

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

post pics please!

[Staplez]

post pics please!

of mine?

I'll post some by this coming weekend. It's getting pulled out for the bracket me and my bother are putting together to fit the chassis then fit the cheap chinese radiator in the top of it. Then it will be worth the pics because the current measures aren't for the public eye :p